Banking & Finance

Helping girls earn and manage money is an integral part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Your troop is responsible for planning and financing its own activities. This gives girls the opportunity to be in charge, and with your supervision and guidance, to cooperatively set goals, manage budget, spend responsibly and maintain records. Girls will gain effective marketing skills, business ethics, math, and financial skills.

Girl Scout troops are funded by a share of the money earned through council-sponsored product program activities (such as the Girl Scout Cookie Program), troop money-earning activities (council approved, of course), and any dues your troop may charge.

Participating in the product programs is a great way of generating some revenue for the troop, as well as learning some valuable lessons in financial literacy and customer service.

Product Sales banking information can be found on our Cookies+ Resources page.

Remember that all funds collected, raised, earned, or otherwise received in the name of and for the benefit of Girl Scouting belong to the troop and must be used for the purposes of Girl Scouting. Funds are administered through the troop and do not belong to individuals.

Establishing a New Bank account for a New Troop

Each troop/group bank account requires two registered unrelated Girl Scout members of that group.

Before you request to open a Girl Scout bank account, each account signer must:

Be a registered Girl Scout member. Join now!
Pass a background check

STEP 1: Choose a bank where you want to open your Girl Scout account. Some banks waive or reduce service charges for Girl Scout troops. Check with your bank before opening the account. Your service team should be consulted for names of banks waiving service charges.

STEP 2: Complete the request to Open Bank Account Form: https://forms.office.com/r/RxV8n0qJpF

The GSKSMO Customer Care Department will confirm that the named signers on your form are listed in the GSUSA membership database as currently registered members of the troop/group and have passed a background check.

Once all volunteer roles and background checks are verified, the council will email the chosen bank branch a letter authorizing the requestors to open a Girl Scout troop/group business checking account using the EIN (Employer Identification Number) of GSKSMO.

Each volunteer will receive a copy of the authorization letter sent to the bank.

*Wait to go to the bank until you have received your bank authorization letter from GSKSMO. You will need this information to open your account.

STEP 3: With the authorization letter in hand and your government-issued ID, visit your bank and fill out signature cards. After opening your account, get bank documentation of your account routing and account number. This can be in the form of a starter check, a letter from the bank stating your routing and account number, or a copy of your signature card with your account number.

**Please contact your chosen bank to make an appointment to come in and complete the account opening.

STEP 4: Submit your Annual Bank ACH Authorization form to the council with an image of a voided check. This will allow the Product Program Department to debit your Girl Scout account for the scheduled cookie program and credit your account for proceeds awarded from the council. Annual Bank ACH Authorization.

Change Signers on an Existing Account

Troops that already have an existing Girl Scout account through their neighborhood bank, can request changes here. Please include all signers on the request including signers to remain, be removed, or be added.

Each troop/group bank account requires 2 registered unrelated Girl Scout members of that group.

Before you request to open a Girl Scout bank account, each account signer must:

•Be a registered Girl Scout member. Join now!

•Pass a background check

STEP 1: Complete the request to Change Signers on an Existing Account: https://forms.office.com/r/4wU2hstCH1

STEP 2: GSKSMO Customer Care will confirm that the named signers on your bank account signer change form are listed in the GSUSA membership database as currently registered members of the troop/group and have passed a background check.

Once all volunteer roles and background checks are verified, the council will email the chosen bank branch a letter authorizing the requestors to make changes to an existing Girl Scout troop/group business checking account using the EIN (Employer Identification Number) of GSKSMO.

STEP 3: Each signer will receive a copy of the authorization letter. With the authorization letter in hand and your government-issued ID, all signers will return to your bank and fill out a new updated signature card. *Wait to go to the bank until you have received your bank authorization letter from GSKSMO. You will need this information to open your account.

STEP 4: Submit your updated Annual Bank ACH Authorization form to the council with an image of a voided check or letter from the bank stating your routing and account number. This will allow the Product Program Department to debit your Girl Scout account for the scheduled cookie program and credit your account for proceeds awarded from the council. Annual Bank ACH Authorization.

Bank Account Set Up

All bank accounts are titled in the name of Girl Scouts of NE KS & NW MO, troop # _____, service unit # ____, or day camp service unit # ____, with a minimum of TWO authorized, unrelated signatures. Only one signature is required on each check.

Resolution: If your bank asks for a signed resolution, ask them for the Resolution for Lodges, Schools, and Other Unincorporated Groups. Complete it using your troop’s meeting day and time as authorization. Include the number of signatures required. Cross out the word “secretary” and write “troop/service unit/day camp leader,” and sign and date the form. Other requests for corporate resolutions should not be completed.

Service charges: Some banks waive or reduce service charges for Girl Scout troops. Check with your bank when opening the account. Your service team should be consulted for names of banks waiving service charges.

Printing troop checks: Print checks with Girl Scouts of NE KS & NW MO on the first line and your troop/service unit # or day camp service unit # on the second line. Do not put a mailing address on the checks. The bank will ask you for a mailing address for their records-provide your home address. Addresses on checks complicate changes in bank account leadership. Some banks ask for additional information. If you need assistance, contact our council Customer Care Team at customercare@gsksmo.org.

Transition Your Existing Bank of America Account to a Neighborhood Bank

All account holders that have a current GSKSMO Bank of America account will need to open a new bank account at a bank of their choice. All banking accounts under the GSKSMO Bank of America umbrella (including troop, service unit, day camp, special events, etc.) are required to open a bank account at a new bank and request transfer of their funds to the new account. Be sure to verify the small banking guidelines at the bank that you choose and explain that you are opening a non-profit account and ask questions about additional fees. Some Service Units may have a preferred bank for you. Consult with your Service Unit Support Manager if you have questions. Here are some considerations when opening a new account:

Fee-free banking
Free customer service calls
No minimum deposit or transaction requirements
1 or 2 debit cards
Cost to purchase checks
Unlimited number of deposits per month
Ability to connect Venmo or Square to their account.

*NOTE: Troops cannot apply to move their banks until they have completed their financial obligation for the 2022 Cookie Program.

How do we change banks?

1. Select which bank you will open your new account with. (Your SU Manager may have suggested banks they would like for you to select to ease future transfers for events)

2. Verify you have 2 unrelated Girl Scout signers for your account.

3. Request a Bank Account Authorization Letter.

4. You will receive an authorized letter via email to take to your bank to open your account. We will also send a copy of the form directly to the bank authorizing this account. Follow your new bank’s process to open a new account.

5. Wait to go to the bank until you have received your account authorization letter from GSKSMO. You will need this information to open your account!

6. After your account is open, you will request GSKSMO to transfer your bank balance by completing the Transfer Balance/ACH Permission form.

7. GSKSMO transfers your remaining balance and closes your Bank of America account. You will receive an email notification when the funds have been sent.

Banking with Bank of America Forms and Resources

Transfers and Check Requests are only for troops/groups that have an existing Girl Scout bank account through Bank of America. Please note that all Girl Scout accounts through Bank of America must change their account to a neighborhood bank of their choice. Please refer to ‘Change Your BOA Account to a Neighborhood Bank’.

Bank of America Forms & Resources/Online Banking

Troop Funds Transfer Request
Check Request
Online Banking

Banking Best Practices

Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri believe helping girls earn and manage money is an integral part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). Your Girl Scout troop is responsible for planning and financing its own activities. This gives girls the opportunity to be in charge, and with your supervision and guidance, to cooperatively set goals, manage budget, spend responsibly and maintain records. They will also gain effective marketing skills, business ethics, math, and financial skills. Regularly share the troop’s account activities publicly at troop meetings.

Adults are to guide the girls and coach them on how to spend their earnings in responsible ways to support their Girl Scout program.

Keep all receipts from all GS transactions for a recommended minimum of 3 years.
Ensure troop funds are used by the troop.
Balance your bank account each month by comparing receipts with the bank statement.
Use your Girl Scout checks or debit card for all troop spending.
Be sure all troop money goes through the troop bank account.
Include girls in all financial decisions – It’s part of the GSLE!
Be sure to provide an accounting of troop expenditures/deposits on a regular basis with the families in your troop. The Finance Tab in your troop’s VTK is a great place to do so.
Deposit all money. Do not hold on to parent and customer checks or other forms of payment for more than a week.

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Disbanding Troop or Girl Transfer Information

Troop Funds - Disbanding Troop

Refer to the Troop Finances section of Volunteer Essentials for more information on approved guidelines for troop funds.

Prior to disbanding, the group may decide to participate in an activity or event that the girls choose. They may also decide to donate any unused funds to their Service Unit or to another Girl Scout troop for girl activities. Abandoned Girl Scout monies left in bank accounts become the property of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri council to be used to support continued members of the Girl Scout program.

Disbanded or Merged Troop Checklist- Please return this form to your service unit support manager

Girls transferring to another troop

When a girl transfers to another Girl Scout troop, troop funds may also be transferred to the receiving troop. The amount that is transferred is based on the amount of money in the troop account and the number of girls in the troop. The amount is not, by how much a girl raised in money-earning programs. The whole amount that is in the account should be divided by the number of girls in the troop. This number is the amount that should be sent to the receiving troop. The monies should be transferred via a check or electronic payment to the receiving troop leader made out to the receiving troop.

Example: Erica is moving to a different town and will be joining a new troop. Her current troop account has a $300.00 balance. Her current troop has 12 girl members. (300/12= 25) A check for $25.00 should be sent to her receiving troop. **At no time should money from a disbanding troop be given to a girl or parent for personal use.

When closing a personal account, be sure all checks and other debits have cleared the account before you close it, and you may have to close the account in person.